Shooting Erupts on Israel-Lebanon Border

AP via SFGate ^ | 2/7/7

[SmithL]

Shooting erupted on the Israel-Lebanon border during an Israeli operation to search for bombs planted by Hezbollah guerillas late Wednesday night, the army said.

The army said troops operating in Israeli territory along the frontier came under fire, and that the source of the shooting was apparently Lebanese troops nearby. When the attackers refused to cease fire, the Israeli troops opened fire at them, the army said.

The gunfire came as Israeli armored bulldozers searched for explosives planted by Hezbollah guerrillas along the frontier, the army said.

The army said its vehicles were clearing land and searching for bombs near the spot where Israeli troops discovered four explosive devices planted by Hezbollah on Monday.

The bulldozers crossed the heavily guarded border fence but remained in Israeli territory, which extends north of the fence in that area, the army said.

Liam McDowall, a spokesman for the U.N. peacekeepers stationed in south Lebanon, said the international force received no reports of any incidents along the border.

[AU72]

Direct result of Olmert micro-managing last summers offensive.

[houeto]

international force = zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[The Blitherer]

Good to see that international force is living up to all our expectations.

[TheBattman]

The Israeli troops had to not only come under fire, but then had to sit and wait for them to stop firing on them before they could return fire? What sort of rules of engagement is that? Once certain to bring defeat?

And if these were indeed Lebanese troops - there should be Hell to pay...

But Olmert the French-like idiot will let it slide...

[SevenofNine]

Pinging all Israel news pingers lists

[Captain Rhino]

The army said troops operating in Israeli territory along the frontier came under fire, and that the source of the shooting was apparently Lebanese troops nearby. When the attackers refused to cease fire, the Israeli troops opened fire at them, the army said.

Information is, of course, incomplete but I suspect that there is probably some sort of protocol in the ceasefiure that allows for one party to identify itself to the other in the case of poor visibility/third party intrusion, etc. (with the expectation that firing will cease when they have done so). I suspect the Israelis probably followed the protocol and then opened fire when the Lebanese troops (probably Shia) refused to stop firing.

The interesting thing is the the UN spokesman said there had been no reports of firing along the border. Wonder what the threshold for reporting is?

[familyop]

"The army said troops operating in Israeli territory along the frontier came under fire, and that the source of the shooting was apparently Lebanese troops nearby."

So given the religious identity in common, the nations will continue to propagandize for the Lebanese and eventually fight for them--that is, those who don't move to our nation to join the Mob.

[villagerjoel]

The good thing about always underacheiving is that nobody's ever dissapointed in you. Way to go UN.